The WORST episodes of Dad's Army
Every episode of Dad's Army ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Dad's Army!
Introducing the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard, a bunch of hapless old and young men who have kept people all over the world very amused since the 1960s. Writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft made each episode of Dad's Army as funny as the previous one, with an element of humour which has survived decades. It has many of the most memorable catchphrases of any sitcom and due to its public embracing, is one of the most repeated shows in television history. The BBC keeps an episode on queue in case of a fault at Television Centre and it even successfully invaded the big screen with a memorable, well-loved Dad's Army feature film made by Columbia Pictures.
#1 - Asleep in the Deep
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/1972
The pumping station of the reservoir has been damaged by a bomb with Walker and Godfrey trapped inside. Hodges is determined to overrule Mainwaring's rescue attempt until it's discovered the structure of the building is very unsafe and they draw lots to decide who are going to be the ones to dig the stranded men out. After successfully reaching Walker and Godfrey, the roof caves in and everyone but Jones ends up trapped in the underground bunker that is now filling rapidly with water. But does Godfrey have a solution that is more useful than asking to be relieved?
#2 - Time on My Hands
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/29/1972
A German pilot has bailed out and is caught hanging by his parachute on the clock tower. The platoon climbs up to rescue him but after Jones breaks the ladder, it's the platoon that needs rescuing.
#3 - Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/22/1972
The platoon is asked to provide guard duty at a testing ground for secret weapons, but when one of the devices gets out of control the platoon has to give chase.
#4 - Brain versus Brawn
Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1972
During an exercise Mainwaring and the platoon have to find a way to gain access to an ammunition dump. After dressing up as firemen they are called to a real fire.
#5 - The King Was in His Counting House
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/1972
While Capt. Mainwaring holds a party at his house for the platoon the bank is hit by a German bomb. After guarding the money all night he has to find a way to transport it to the Eastgate branch for safety.
#6 - If the Cap Fits
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/1972
The platoon is given a lecture on the German army but because Frazer keeps on complaining, Mainwaring makes him Acting CO of the platoon. Later, when the Colonel asks the platoon to attend a dinner, Mainwaring has to play the bagpipes.
#7 - The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/1972
The platoon practices house clearing by using the office, unaware that the vicar and Hodges have got caught up in the action. Later during a live firing exercise the platoon is sent to the wrong map reference. When Jones discovers the mistake he drives to the rescue.
#8 - Getting the Bird
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/1972
Rumour sweeps through Walmington-on-Sea that Wilson is seeing a young girl. He goes AWOL and is found drunk. It turns out that the girl is his daughter. Meanwhile Walker has taken delivery of pigeons that have been stolen from Trafalgar Square, and has to find somewhere to hide them. Then the platoon assembles for church parade. What could go wrong?
#9 - A Soldier's Farewell
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/20/1972
During the journey home after a night at the cinema, Mainwaring comes to the assistance of a clippie after Hodges accosts her. Later Mainwaring dreams of being Napoleon with the clippie as Josephine.
#10 - Keep Young and Beautiful
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/13/1972
Vanity swoops through the platoon after Parliament decides that Home Guard members who are not fit for battle must be reassigned to the ARP and ARP wardens that are fit and able should be reassigned to the Home Guard. The platoon obviously doesn't want this to happen so resort to some rather shocking measures to fool the Area Commander into believing the men are suitable staying where they are.
#11 - My British Buddy
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/7/1973
The platoon decides to give a party to the visiting American troops. When the Yanks start to get fresh with the platoon's girlfriends, all hell lets loose.
#12 - Fallen Idol
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/18/1970
While the platoon is at a training camp, Mainwaring gets drunk with the other officers during the night and misses the live grenade training the following morning. Later during the training one of the grenades lands in Jones's van and Mainwaring rides to the rescue.
#13 - Uninvited Guests
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/11/1970
When the ARP Headquarters has been destroyed, Hodges and the wardens move into Mainwaring's office and the two of them start arguing over space. Later the chimney catches fire and they have to work together to put the fire out.
#14 - A Wilson (Manager?)
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/4/1970
After a promotion, Wilson moves to Eastgate to be manager of their bank and joins their Home Guard at the rank of First Lieutenant. His new life does not last long, however, as the bank is bombed the day he arrives.
#15 - The Test
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/27/1970
In a cricket match between the platoon and the ARP wardens, Chief Warden Hodges has a secret weapon up his sleeve: he plans to recruit Ernie Egan (played by England's fast bowler Fred Trueman), a professional cricketer. But all does not go as planned.
#16 - The Two and a Half Feathers
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/1970
LCpl. Jones goes to a reunion of his old regiment. While he is away an old comrade who fought in the same battle joins the platoon and accuses Jones of cowardice. Upon his return Jones has to tell the real story.
#17 - Put That Light Out!
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/1970
The platoon is manning the local lighthouse and accidentally switches on the light and can't find a way to switch it off. During an air raid they must find a way to cover up the glare.
#18 - Absent Friends
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1970
In Capt. Mainwaring's absence Wilson organises a darts match against the ARP in the local pub. When Mainwaring returns unexpectedly they have trouble getting the men back on parade.
#19 - Don't Fence Me In
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1970
The platoon guards some Italian POW then suspicion falls on Walker that he may be helping them to escape. Mainwaring then sets a trap with a surprising outcome.
#20 - Sgt - Save My Boy!
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1970
The platoon has moved to a new HQ's position on the beach. When Pike fails to turn up they find him caught up in the barbed wire at the waters edge. With the tide coming in, Mainwaring and Wilson mount a rescue mission, but someone else gets there first.
#21 - Come In, Your Time Is Up
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/26/1975
Capt. Mainwaring gives a lecture on field craft in the vicar's garden, covering what to eat and how to erect a tent. Later, apart from having to put up with the vicar, verger, Hodges and a gang of boy scouts, their field manoeuvres are also interrupted by three German airmen who have been shot down and are trapped in their dinghy in the middle of the lake. "Hӓnde hoch! Hӓnde hoch!"
#22 - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/15/1969
Walker is finally called up but Mainwaring tries to get his call-up deferred because of his value to the platoon, but he is still conscripted, only to find out that he is allergic to the army's corned beef.
#23 - Sgt Wilson's Little Secret
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/22/1969
Sergeant Wilson overhears Mrs Pike telling Frank that she is expecting a child. Wilson assumes that she is pregnant and that he is the father, but it turns out that she is looking after an evacuee. Mainwaring advises that Wilson marry her, until she clears up the misunderstanding.
#24 - Never Too Old
Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/1977
LCpl. Jones wants to marry Mrs. Fox but has to get Capt. Mainwaring's permission. During the reception an invasion alert is called and Jones spends his wedding night on the beach doing guard duty. Note: as the end of the series, it aired on Remembrance Sunday and ended with a tribute from the platoon to the real Home Guard.
#25 - The Miser's Hoard
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/1977
Frazer is busy counting up his earnings when his doctor visits and accidentally knocks over a money box revealing that Frazer is far from poor. Concerned, the doctor alerts Mainwaring, who alerts Jones and very soon Frazer's fortune is the subject of town gossip. Eventually the platoon, Hodges, the vicar and the verger are spying on Frazer to see what he does with his money. Will they get their hands on it, or does Frazer have a sneaky trick up his sleeve?